by Brian Major
Last updated: 12:00 PM ET, Fri January 26, 2024
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. will proceed under new
leadership in 2024. Andrea Franklin, a longtime Barbados and Caribbean tourism official, will become the
organization’s chief executive officer effective April 1, said Barbados Ministry
of Tourism officials in a statement.
Franklin replaces Dr. Jens Thraenhart, who had served as
BTMI’s CEO since 2021. She most recently served as chief executive officer of
Caves of Barbados, a division of Chukka Caribbean Adventures.
Additionally, Cheryl Carter, currently BTMI’s U.K.
director, will become the organization’s chief operating officer, a new
position, concurrent with Franklin’s appointment.
Carter will manage [BTMI’s] “operational functions” to “facilitate
the streamlining of skills and core functions so the CEO [can] focus on
strategic direction.”
BTMI representatives describe the appointments as part of
the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport’s policy to “be responsive
to the dynamic needs of the tourism sector by taking strategic steps to
refresh, reposition, redirect and renew how [BTMI does] business.”
“Ms. Franklin is a homegrown, well-educated and
experienced tourism and hospitality practitioner who has come through the ranks
to reach the top tourism post in Barbados,” said Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados’
minister of tourism and international transport.
Franklin began her tourism career in the 1990s as an Air
Jamaica account executive and later worked at BTMI’s predecessor, the Barbados
Tourism Authority, holding posts including manager, product Integration and senior
business development manager in New York.
In the latter post, Franklin “built critical networks
with key business partners including airlines, travel agents and tour operators,”
officials said.
Carter is “a veteran professional in the tourism industry”
with more than 26 years of experience, officials said. She achieved “the highest
arrivals for Barbados from its major source market” as interim head of global
markets in the U.K. in 2019.
Carter has also “cultivated professional relationships
with airlines, travel and tourism partners over the years who value her
leadership and direction.”
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